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Overton Passenger Cars

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  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Modeling the Seaboard Air Line Ry.
  • 531 posts
Posted by citylimits on Monday, March 23, 2009 12:22 AM

CNJ831

dehusman

The prototype for the Overton cars are some post WW1 cars built for the Sierra.  There were also several roads that had short baggage cars,

For the vast majority of roads in the 1890-1920 era the overton cars are not typical.  50-70 foot cars would be much more common.

Adding to the above comment, I would note that the 34' cars were unique to the Sierra and as I recall, operated only on a single branchline of that road, plus there were only just a couple of cars of this design in total. Thus, it is difficult to considering them as prototypical for use in any other situation.

The fifty-footers are much better respresentatives of "typical/common" passenger car design from the later years of the 19th century up until the very early years of the 20th.

CNJ831 

Do you think that the fifty-footers could have perhaps seen branch or secondary service into the 1940's or even the 1950's on some roads?

BruceSmile

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Martinez, CA
  • 5,440 posts
Posted by markpierce on Sunday, March 22, 2009 11:41 PM

CNJ831

I would note that the 34' cars were unique to the Sierra and as I recall, operated only on a single branchline of that road, plus there were only just a couple of cars of this design in total. Thus, it is difficult to considering them as prototypical for use in any other situation.

The Angels Branch started in front of the Nevills Hotel in Jamestown and wound its way back and forth, always following the "Mother Lode" vein and passing many of the most famous gold mines in its 19.3 tortuous miles. Included along the route were "switchbacks" in the steep canyon of the Stanislaus River.

The first train into Angels Camp arrived on September 15, 1902. Because of the steep grades, tight turns, and numerous switchbacks, geared locomotives and special equipment had to be used. Two special "shorty" passenger cars were built especially for the Angels Branch in 1902 by the Holman Car Company of San Francisco. These unique cars, combination coach-baggage No. 5 and coach No. 6, have seen many years of varied service on the Sierra. Both have been used in countless movies and remain on display today at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, CA.

Mark

  • Member since
    April 2001
  • From: US
  • 3,150 posts
Posted by CNJ831 on Sunday, March 22, 2009 10:00 PM

dehusman

The prototype for the Overton cars are some post WW1 cars built for the Sierra.  There were also several roads that had short baggage cars,

For the vast majority of roads in the 1890-1920 era the overton cars are not typical.  50-70 foot cars would be much more common.

Adding to the above comment, I would note that the 34' cars were unique to the Sierra and as I recall, operated only on a single branchline of that road, plus there were only just a couple of cars of this design in total. Thus, it is difficult to considering them as prototypical for use in any other situation.

The fifty-footers are much better respresentatives of "typical/common" passenger car design from the later years of the 19th century up until the very early years of the 20th.

CNJ831 

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: Oreland PA
  • 986 posts
Posted by UncBob on Sunday, March 22, 2009 9:34 PM

 Layout is a project in progress but here are the two types 

 

cars 

51% share holder in the ME&O ( Wife owns the other 49% )

ME&O

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • 235 posts
Posted by TwinZephyr on Sunday, March 22, 2009 9:15 PM

Technically, MDC used the term Overton for only the 34 foot cars.  The 50 foot cars were described as Pullman if they had a duckbill roof and Overland if they had the full length clerestory roof.

The 50 foot passenger car with duckbill roof appears to be a model of the Pullman "Pioneer".  The Overton coach and combine look like models of Sierra RR cars.  Whether by accident or intent, the Overton baggage car is close to a car built by the V&T.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Omaha, NE
  • 10,621 posts
Posted by dehusman on Sunday, March 22, 2009 9:10 PM

The prototype for the Overton cars are some post WW1 cars built for the Sierra.  There were also several roads that had short baggage cars,

For the vast majority of roads in the 1890-1920 era the overton cars are not typical.  50-70 foot cars would be much more common.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: Oreland PA
  • 986 posts
Posted by UncBob on Sunday, March 22, 2009 9:04 PM

 Thanks I thought the 50s were OK but was unsure of the 34

 

I will run the 34s with the old time 4-4-0 and the 50s with the modern 4-4-0

51% share holder in the ME&O ( Wife owns the other 49% )

ME&O

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, March 22, 2009 8:43 PM

The short answer is yes. While they may not be exact models of specific prototypes, cars like the MDC 34' and 50' cars where common in the 1870- 1905 period and the 50' length was very typical. Shorter cars did exist, but again, whether there is an exact prototype for the 34' cars i'm not sure.

Carstens book "Passenger Cars - vol 1" has drawings and pictures of several such prototypes in various lengths.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: Oreland PA
  • 986 posts
Overton Passenger Cars
Posted by UncBob on Sunday, March 22, 2009 7:41 PM

 About 10 years ago I made  two Overton passenger car sets from kits for my RR the ME &O

 

One set was the 34 Fters and the other the 50 Fters 

 

Do these represent anything close to  the actual length/s

51% share holder in the ME&O ( Wife owns the other 49% )

ME&O

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